Lee Valley Cycle Ability Bike Club Leader Charlie Coates

Charlie Coates is working really hard as a Bike Club Leader at Lee Valley Cycle Ability Bike Club for disabled riders, their families, friends and carers. They have a great selection of adapted bikes at Stonebridge Lock that members can borrow for a lovely relaxing ride along the leafy park paths

Charilie Coates Bike Club Leader (centre) takes a group on the marshes

Charlie Coates is making a tremendous contribution to the running of Lee Valley Cycle Ability Bike Club.

The LVCA Bike Club meets every week at Stonebridge Lock at Lee Valley where they have a storage container for their bikes.

The bikes are a selection of adapted machines, suitable for those with a wide range of disabilities to ride, that Bike Club members can access at sessions.

Charlie is 20 years old and has Cerebral Palsy[2] with RHS hemiplegia[3]. He is keen to encourage and support people with disabilities to get more active and cycle with the Club.

I really look forward to my weekly sessions where I can do something constructive for disabled people

Charlie Coates

"I love riding the kart and I really look forward to my weekly sessions where I can do something constructive for disabled people" says Charlie.

Already well qualified, with a level one sports coach, first aid certificates and CRB, he has rapidly worked his way through the LVCA Bike Club training modules for volunteers:

Local area and club background induction.

Setup adjustment and safety checks for the KMXKart recumbent trikes.

Bike build from box.

Local area routes from Stonebridge Lock to Pickets Lock and back.

Charlie will soon be in a position to run sessions. This is a big step towards the on-going sustainability of the Bike Club

Tony Harvey, Bike Club Leader

"This is particularly good for the club since Charlie’s previous training means that he will soon be in a position to not just support but run sessions at the Bike Club as a volunteer without the need of further supervision. This is a big step towards the on-going sustainability of the Bike Club, a major success criteria." says Bike Club leader, Tony Harvey.

Not content to rest on his laurels, Charlie has applied to attend the British Cycling Level Two Coaching Award [4]and has added his name to the waiting list for a course to be booked locally before the year end.

Lee Valley Cycle Ability were awarded a £2000 Bike Club grant to help run sessions to up-skill volunteers and members to deliver sessions. Charlie is someone that has directly benefited from the grant. It was also used to purchase some conventional bikes to allow carers, family members and friends to ride along with the disabled person using an adapted bike. The conventional bikes can also be used by those with disabilities who do not require an adapted bike.